Having worked on my craft as an instrumentalist for fifty some years, it pains me somewhat to say that songwriting and singing are undoubtedly the most difficult bases to cover in popular music, but this group, which I proudly co-founded, was/is blessed in those areas. As I mentioned in the extensive interview for the Alice Cooper website in the UK, the most interesting writers I have had the good fortune to record with at length are Dan Pritzker and Alice Cooper.

Although the music is different stylistically for the most part, and the writers often address different topics, possibly even to different target audiences…..intentionally or not…both are capable of writing great songs…..and have. I could say that an uncommon awareness of the foibles of human nature, a powerful compassion and realization of the injustices of life, and a real appreciation of the eccentric inform Dan’s writing…… but I won’t, cause it sounds too much like a critical review. He, like Alice, would much rather express the lyrics and the music in as non-mainstream a manner as possible. They both have a great sense of humor in the writing. Some might say that Alice writes about and for youth, while some would probably say that a little life experience enhances the appreciation of some of Dan’s best work…but I shan’t. Maybe I should just say that for me, they can both write some great stuff. (By the way, another writer of great off-the-beaten-path stuff is Tonio K, but I only got to work with him briefly, a couple days in the studio. We did do a tour back in ’79 though with Earl Slick on guitar…good sport.)

And Sonia Dada has had from three to four great voices, all of ’em different. Michael Scott, Paris Delane, Shawn Christopher, and Sam Hogan all have their own distinctive presence, and they can’t help but get into the gospel harmony every now and then, with great results.

Some of the most distinctive musicians I have had the pleasure to record with have been in the studio with SD, and I should name them here, Hank Gualianone on drums, Chris Cameron on keys, Dave Resnick, Phil Miller, and Dan on guitar were the regular guys….. Ron Schwartz on keys and computers and Larry Beers on drums also contribute substantially. There really have been too many outstanding talents to mention here that have passed through our studio, but they are all mentioned on the individual album credits.

I’m probably a bit close and prejudiced to a lot of this music after 16 years, so I’ll just say it’s a highlight and here’s a link to the SD website. Although the band is currently on hiatus, the site is still up for the most part, including a 24-hour radio playing SD. You can also buy all Sonia Dada albums and swag at the site. — Erik Scott

“If there is a breakout musician on this album it is Erik Scott, a fine bass player who has always done outstanding work. This album has several tracks that put him in a class with Jaco Pasorius, Stanley Clarke and James Jamerson of Motown fame. Erik also shares the production duties with Dan Pritzker, Ron Schwartz and Scott Steiner.”

Creative modern-rock bass is not an oxymoron. Scott’s clever lines on SD’s My Secret Life push and pull the band’s complex arrangements with aplomb-but they (gasp!) always support the song. – Bass Player Jan. 1999